Karnataka - Bangalore   

Elephant was shot by farmer who suffered crop damage

BANGALORE: The female elephant that was found dead in Harohalli near Bannerghatta on Saturday appears to have been shot by a farmer, who was angry over the damage caused to his crop by the pachyderm.

The Forest Department’s investigation has revealed that a farmer had shot the animal with a muzzle loader gun in broad daylight on Saturday. “There was a slight damage to the crops in his field. But we are surprised at his reaction,” said Deputy Conservator of Forests, Bannerghatta National Park (BNP), B. Venkatesh. However, the officials refused to name the farmer. The Forest Department has filed a complaint with the Kanakapura police and are considering action under the Wildlife Protection Act and the Indian Arms Act. The elephant was found dead at an area about five km away from the Harohalli range of the BNP.

During the autopsy two bullets were recovered from the elephant’s head and neck.

Meanwhile, the BNP authorities have decided not to conduct the annual elephant drive. For years, they have been incurring heavy expenditure to drive migratory elephants back to the Tali Reserve Forest in Tamil Nadu during the sowing and harvest season. “But we have been seeing the elephants come back so we decided against continuing the drive,” Mr. Venkatesh said.

He said forest personnel have been posted to keep a close watch on the migratory elephants. “We have made some arrangements, including creation of makeshift ponds, to prevent these elephants straying into the farms near the forest,” he said. “So far there have not been many incidents of damage to crops and humans,” he added.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Something pretty for your home
‘An exciting area of basic research’
Engineering student’s death: college accused of negligence
Housewarming turns tragic for family
Humnabad joins BJP
Lorry owners’ plea to Government
Skills and training can make them able
CAT a no show for some again
It’s tough for out-of-town candidates
Steel major Posco in talks with Karnataka for setting up plant
I say, what a Plum gathering! UrBAN RITES
These markets have also suffered a downturn
A market that blooms every day
The market falls by the wayside
Forget customers, even traders suffer
Seven questioned over vandalism Crime notes
Public ire over park ID cards
Ward reservation list for BBMP
Elephant was shot by farmer who suffered crop damage
BDA recovers Rs. 30 crore worth property
Bangalore Today

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu